by Becky Andrus | Nov 10, 2020 | Local News
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBjcDXNWAUk
Philo Awards:
ONTV Honored at Virtual Ceremony
Orion Neighborhood Television was honored at the Philo Festival of Media Arts, earning two awards for excellence in local programming. The Central States Alliance of Community Media hosted a virtual ceremony on Oct. 29. The Philo Awards in an annual public access television cable TV competition within the Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and Michigan region. The “PHILO” is awarded for excellence in community media in various categories.
ONTV was the winner in the community event professional category for its “Miracle League Grand Opening” program. The “ONTV Newscast” was also recognized as a finalist in the news professional category.
On Aug. 9, 2019 Orion Township celebrated the grand opening of Miracle League Field, which is an accessible baseball diamond for people of all abilities. “ONTV had multiple cameras at the event to cover the opening ceremony and following game,” says station manager Joe Johnson. “It was amazing to see the entire community come together to make this happen and we were happy to document this historic moment. To be recognized for our efforts by the ACM is just frosting on the cake.” “This program is a perfect example of why community television is so important,” says Ian Locke, executive director. “Local news stations came out and covered the event as a news story. ONTV covered the event from the opening ceremony to the final out.”
Over the years, ONTV has taken home awards at both the regional Philo and the national Hometown Media Awards. “We feel that our staff and producers create programs that are considered to be the best in the country and our facility sets a standard that others hope to replicate,” says Johnson. “The feedback we get from the community regarding our programs and classes inspires us to keep doing what we’re doing.”
The Philo Awards is named after Philo T. Farnsworth, the father of modern television. The ACM Central States Region honors the memory of Philo T. Farnsworth by recognizing the effort of access producers who promote the use of media in their community.
by Becky Andrus | Oct 28, 2020 | Local News
CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF ORION
OFFICE OF THE SUPERVISOR
CHRIS BARNETT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Chris Barnett
248-391-0304 ext. 1001
[email protected]
UM-DEARBORN’S ILABS’ ECITIES RESEARCH RECOGNIZES ORION TOWNSHIP FOR SUPPORTING BUSINESS IN THEIR COMMUNITY
Orion Township, MI (October 23, 2020) – Orion Township has been recognized for its successes and efforts in contributing to Michigan’s entrepreneurial growth and economic development in the annual eCities study conducted by researchers at iLabs, University of Michigan-Dearborn’s Center for Innovation Research. Orion Township was honored as a five-star community along with 110 other communities across the state.
“We are very proud that the University of Michigan has recognized Orion Township for its efforts in attracting new investment in the community. Our initiatives on Brown & Baldwin roads are contributing to meaningful change benefitting our residents in terms of tax base and new recreational opportunities while creating platforms for new business and employment,” said Chris Barnett, Orion Township Supervisor.
The 2020 eCities study analyzed publicly available data from 277 communities from 54 counties in Michigan. Researchers focused on the five-year changes in property values, community assets, and tax rates, which can demonstrate the growth, investments, and cost of doing business within the community. For example, over the five-year period of 2015-2019, these communities increased their capital assets by an average of 2.4 percent per year by investments such as library equipment, building, water, and sewage improvements, and street renovations, while property tax rates increased by less than 1 percent on average per year.
Although accounting for less than 20 percent of the State’s cities and townships, the 277 communities analyzed are home to 70 percent of Michigan’s population and 87 percent of the state’s commercial property. “Each year, the eCities project aims to highlight the successes and continued commitment of cities and townships to grow business and support entrepreneurship within their communities,” said Kari Kowalski, iLabs project manager.
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About University of Michigan-Dearborn
Founded in 1959 with a gift of just over 200 acres of land and $6.5 million from the Ford Motor Company, University of Michigan-Dearborn is a metropolitan university serving southeastern Michigan, committed to excellence rooted in strong academics, innovative research and programming and civic engagement. The university has 9,400 students pursuing more than 100 bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and professional degrees in liberal arts and sciences, engineering, business, education and health programs. A top-ranked university with faculty devoted to teaching and students committed to achievement, UM-Dearborn is shaped by its history of partnering with local leaders and communities, and is committed to finding solutions for the challenges that face the region.
CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF ORION
OFFICE OF THE SUPERVISOR
CHRIS BARNETT
LINKS:
eCities homepage:
https://umdearborn.edu/cob/business–community/ilabs–center–innovation–research/entrepreneurship/ecities
List of all four-star communities:
https://umich.box.com/s/7k999ox0ieqwybnou1mhal3jcpcfiepa
List of all five-star communities:
https://umich.box.com/s/txq5g6sxxr3pwrsgxwkr0jp8p6ce7ggc
by Becky Andrus | Oct 27, 2020 | Local News, Township/Village
by Becky Andrus | Oct 27, 2020 | Local News, Township/Village
by Becky Andrus | Oct 26, 2020 | Local News
Coulter Unveils Innovative Economic Strategy Focusing On Diversification, Workforce And Community Development First New Economic Plan In 16 Years Touts Local And Global Appeal
Pontiac, Michigan – Oakland County Executive David Coulter today launched a new economic development strategy for the county which aims to spur innovation, investment and growth through a focus on digitized manufacturing, regional collaboration, environmental sustainability, and increased workforce education and training.
The new strategy operates under the premise that Oakland County is an inviting global destination for world-class talent, investment and jobs. It will be data driven through equitable and inclusive development, with the county involved as a catalyst for collaboration locally and across the region. Key focus areas are educational attainment, mobility, digitizing manufacturing and supporting small businesses.
“Oakland County’s economic development strategy has not been updated since 2004,” Coulter said. “This is a rapidly changing landscape, and our focus must be intentional and directed. For example, we have more than 2,200 manufacturers employing 69,000 people and generating $5.7 billion in goods and services. The engineering talent found in Oakland County is second to none and we must leverage it to ensure we solidify our status as the mobility capital of the world.”
The county, with more than 1,000 international firms from 39 countries, has an international diversity that many states can’t match – an advantage the strategy seeks to further develop. The strategy sharpens county efforts to help local companies attract lucrative aerospace and defense contracts from the U.S. Department of Defense and Homeland Security. It strengthens the mobility/autonomous vehicles sector, helping small manufacturers through Industry 4.0, which brings them into the world of digitized manufacturing, 3D printing, advanced materials, robotics, cybersecurity and internet of all things.
Oakland County recently invested $10 million in Automation Alley to help the county become more resilient to pandemics such as COVID-19, and less reliant on foreign manufacturing for essential goods such as protective equipment for first responders, hospitals and health care workers.
Strategy highlights include:
- Oakland80, which Coulter introduced in February during his State of the County address, set a goal of having 80 percent of county adults attain a post-secondary degree or industry-recognized credential by 2030. This initiative makes the county an attractive destination for employer relocation or expansion and to help sustain and grow investment.
- Hiring our Veterans seeks to connect retiring veterans with good paying jobs, should the veteran return to Oakland County. The county’s Veterans’ Services division is being moved to the Workforce Development division.
- Mobility: Silicon Valley and Oakland County/Southeast Michigan are competing to own this space. The county and Southeast Michigan make a strong case for supremacy because of the high concentration of engineers in the region. Oakland County will work with Macomb County and Wayne County to create mobility corridors for autonomous vehicles.
- Oakland County International Airport and Oakland/Southwest Airport: Leverage the use of county-owned airports to support autonomous aerial platforms and programs expected to grow rapidly because of Amazon’s expansion in the county.
- Promote Entrepreneurial Spirit and Innovation: The county recently received a $3 million grant from the federal government with a matching $1.3 million from Oakland County to support small entrepreneurs impacted by COVID 19, which includes the promotion of minority-owned, woman-owned and veteran-owned companies.
- Environment & Sustainability: Oakland County has over 90,000 acres of parkland, more than 1,400 freshwater lakes, 65 miles of trails for hiking and biking. The strategy acknowledges the county’s fiduciary duty to be stewards of these natural resources and ensure their preservation and viability for future generations.
- Local Small Businesses: COVID 19 hit every business hard, especially small businesses with less than 50 employees. The county invested over $74 million in 15,000 small businesses, and $1.7 million in 22 local chambers of commerce.
by Becky Andrus | Oct 21, 2020 | Local News
Oakland County Economic Development Strategic Plan